Substance use Specificities in Women with Psychosis: A Critical Review

Women with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders differ from male patients in many respects, including psychopathology, prognosis, disease course, and substance use comorbidities. Most studies performed to date to investigate the association between drug use and psychosis have not evaluated gender differences, although this has started to change in recent years.

We briefly summarize the available evidence on gender differences in drug use and substance use disorders (SUD) in psychotic patients during the early phases of the psychotic illness and during the course of schizophrenia.

Substance use and SUD are both less prevalent in women, both in the general population and at all phases of the psychotic spectrum. Some studies suggest that SUD may be under diagnosed in female patients, in part due to their more vulnerable profile. Substance use, especially cannabis, may more negatively impact females, especially on the disease course and prognosis. The available data suggest that it may be more difficult to treat SUD in female patients with schizophrenia, which could negatively impact prognosis.

Women with concomitant psychotic illness and SUD comprise a highly vulnerable subgroup. This should be considered when selecting the treatment approach, especially in the early phases of the illness, to ensure better outcomes.